The life and death of father Fray Matheo de Cobissa
[Though sufferings and persecution refine the gold of the church, yet
there are many rich and pure spirits who appear in time of peace. Of
these latter we are now to give an example. There were but few years in
which father Fray Matheo de Cobissa lived in this province. He reached
the province toward the close of July, 1628, and was sent directly to
the island of Hermosa where he spent less than three years, but those
were full of glory. Fray Francisco Mola, vicar-provincial of the order
in Hermosa, and Fray Angel de San Antonio, vicar of the convent of All
Saints in that island, wrote a formal certificate testifying to the
facts in the case of father Fray Matheo. They give an account of the
marvelous visions which the father beheld, in which the Lord explained
to him what was to come. The Lord had previously revealed the future to
him, giving him notice beforehand of the coming of the English fleet
to Cadiz in 1625; of the great inundation in España in 1626; and of
the unfortunate death of the reverend father Fray Bartholome Martinez,
the provincial, on his return from the island of Yama. To these fathers
the dying father gave an account of other visions that he had had. He
told them further that his rigorous penances had never weakened his
bodily strength. He received the extreme unction, and told the fathers
who were listening that when he was coming from España he saw by the
mizzenmast of the vessel the patriarchs St. Dominic and St. Francis,
and that he had had a vision of the three holy kings. Not satisfied
with this evidence uttered by this father's mouth, these fathers
added other information. Father Fray Angel told of cases which had
been revealed to him by father Fray Matheo, in confession, which he
had received permission to publish for the glory of God. Such were
the coming of the Dutch enemy against Tanchuy and the death of the
provincial. When the fathers asked if his dreams, which signified that
which was to come, were always clear, or were of indistinct figures,
he answered that they were generally clear; but sometimes only such
that he could understand that something was prognosticated, though he
could not tell immediately what it was. He was most devoted to prayer,
and most rigorously abstinent. Father Francisco Mola testified to
the religious devotion of the friar. Brother Fray Andres Ximenez,
who accompanied the father from España and was very intimate with
him, testified to his life of mortification and penance, and to his
devotion. He was reckoned a saint, and the high esteem in which he
was held in this province is shown by the words of the provincial
chapter in recording his death.]